The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-08
GATHERING VANILLA PODS.
How the Indians of Mexico Cultivate thu
Plant and Prepare 1t for Market.

Plant and Prepare II for Market.
The vanilla plant IS found native in
Mexico, South America and the West
Indies; but it is only In the wild valleys
near the eastern coast of the first men-
toned country that the vanilla bean Is
found possessing the characteristic which
makes it valuable for the use of man. In
the other countries it attains no perfec-
ton, and is practically worthless The
vanilla is an orchid, and is cultivated
rudely by the Mexican Indians, and by
them brought into the seaports and mar
keted, very largely in Vera Cruz. OF
the great natural beauties and wonderful
tropical features, especially the prOfuse
tropical vegetation of Mexico, the reader
has doubtless heard OF read
In the great valley of Mazatlan-an
immense sunkcn hole in the ground,
depression of more than 5000 feet in its
immediate surroundings, where every
manifestation of nature IL on a grand
scale, vegetation unrivaled in luxuriance
and beauty, ferns being found there
seventy feet in height-in this valley
vanilla fiourishes in Il wild state, and
here the supply of that flavoring for the
chocolate of MOnteZuna was obtained,
and the region round about is the vanilla
the jealousy of the natives in guarding
its production from the eyes or the cog
nizance of the outside world. and all the
peculiaritieS of Mexican outdoor life are
illustrated in the brigandage which 10th
protects and preys upon the industry.
But few whites ever penetrate to MaZat
Ian, and it Is only at great risk of life and
lavish outlay that excursions are ever
made To that point. Few care tO attempt
the adventure.
The Indians cultivate by tying the plant
to a scrub oak. when, being an orchid. it
Neretatea upon the air. For the first four
years of its life it bea.S no fruit, and after
that continues in bearing until fifteen
wears old. The blossoms are in clusters.
somewhat resembling lllGcS, but white in
color. and Of the most powerful perfume,
similar to- tuirTusts. The green fruit, or
beans, dc,,entl from a stock, clustered like
bananas, which they nearly res mblc in
size every way while the fruit Is green.
1t is gathcre, when not quite ripe, but
before the harvesting the beans have
diminished two or three ON a stock These
green beans, when gathered. weigh from
sixty to seveuty-tive pounds pr 1000
! (thay are handled and sold by thousandsJ,
but dwindlg in the process of curing, so
that their weight finally IS but from ten
TO fourteen pounds per 1000 and shrink
from an inch, or rarely two inches, in
! Circumference To- an attenUated pod not
much larger than . pipt-,tem-
10 cure properly requires about ninety
| days time, and the manipulation is al
most infinite, each bean being handled
| critically from 500 to- 800 times in the
| process by the Indians The green beans,
| as gathered. are disposed of in layers
| first a layer of beans and then blanket.
and 50 ON TIL n pile Is formed of alternate
layers OF beans and blankets. This Is
called the sweating process, and during
its continuance the piles are turned two
or three times a day, until most of the
/ waite: has been '-svedted' out. This
process is followed BIZ drying in the sun,
| ami here the natives exercise the utmost
| care and attention. When finished the
! beans are to- be the color of very dark
| ciGar.-Amcrican Analyst.